Highest Paid EuroLeague Players 2026/27: Top 10 Salaries

An annual salary of €3 million after tax is no longer enough to guarantee a place among the EuroLeague’s ten highest earners.

The biggest contracts in European basketball have grown considerably, with Vasilije Micić leading the 2026/27 rankings at an estimated €5.6 million per season.

Panathinaikos and Hapoel Tel Aviv account for six players in the top ten, while several of the competition’s biggest deals belong to former NBA players.

Others, including Sylvain Francisco and Elijah Bryant, earned substantial raises after outstanding EuroLeague campaigns.

The following ranking examines the highest paid EuroLeague players in 2026/27, their reported annual salaries, contract details and the performances behind those agreements.

EuroLeague game lines, player props and futures markets are covered in the best basketball betting sites guide. Player salaries alone are not a reliable indicator of match probabilities or betting value.

• Highest salary: Vasilije Micić tops the 2026/27 EuroLeague salary rankings with an estimated €5.6 million per season after tax.
• Most players in the top ten: Panathinaikos have four representatives, followed by Hapoel Tel Aviv with two.
• Major salary increases: Sylvain Francisco and Elijah Bryant secured lucrative new contracts after earning All-EuroLeague First Team honors in 2025/26.
• Salary estimates: All figures represent reported annual net earnings rather than officially disclosed salaries. Separately reported bonuses, buyouts and other compensation are excluded.

The ranking is based on a salary assessment published on September 15, 2026, with player contracts and club affiliations checked against subsequent announcements through November 7.

Hayes-Davis’ salary is disputed. Some reports suggest annual earnings closer to €3.5 million, which would place him lower in the rankings.

How the salaries are calculated: All amounts are estimates of annual take-home pay after tax (net), not the total value of multi-year contracts.

EuroLeague clubs generally do not publish individual salaries, and different reports sometimes provide conflicting figures.

The table follows one consistent assessment, but the precise ordering remains uncertain where salary ranges overlap.

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured one of European basketball’s most decorated guards in 2025, signing Vasilije Micić to a three-year contract through 2028.

The Serbian playmaker’s annual net salary is estimated at €5.6 million. His complete compensation package could be worth considerably more, with performance bonuses and a reported ownership stake in Hapoel forming part of the agreement.

Micić returned to Europe after two NBA seasons, having previously led Anadolu Efes to consecutive EuroLeague championships in 2021 and 2022. He was named Final Four MVP in both title-winning campaigns.

Hapoel’s investment reflects the value of a proven primary playmaker. Micić can control the tempo, create shots for teammates and take responsibility late in games. His experience of winning the competition is particularly significant for a club looking to establish itself among Europe’s leading teams.

Nigel Hayes-Davis joined Panathinaikos in February 2026 following a brief NBA spell, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract through 2028.

The American forward’s exact salary remains one of the biggest uncertainties in this ranking.

Some reports value his entire agreement at approximately $10 million, equivalent to around €3.5 million per season. Other estimates place his annual compensation as high as €5 million.

The higher figure puts Hayes-Davis second on this list. Under the lower estimate, he would fall behind several teammates, including Kendrick Nunn and Guerschon Yabusele.

Hayes-Davis was named Final Four MVP after helping Fenerbahce win the 2025 EuroLeague championship. His combination of perimeter shooting, defensive versatility and experience in decisive games makes him one of the competition’s most accomplished forwards.

Panathinaikos acquired a proven championship performer, although the financial terms of his deal are less clear than those of several other leading earners.

Kendrick Nunn signed a three-year extension with Panathinaikos in April 2025, reportedly worth €13.5 million after tax.

At approximately €4.5 million per season, the agreement made him the EuroLeague’s highest-paid player at the time.

The American guard had just completed an exceptional 2024/25 campaign, winning the regular-season MVP award and the Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy after averaging 21.1 points per game.

Nunn’s greatest strength is his ability to generate offense when a possession breaks down. He can attack off the dribble, create separation against tight defensive coverage and score from well beyond the three-point line.

Those qualities become especially valuable in playoff basketball, when opponents have more time to prepare for a team’s preferred offensive actions.

His contract runs through 2028, ensuring that Panathinaikos retain one of Europe’s most productive guards.

Guerschon Yabusele returned to the EuroLeague in July 2026 after two seasons in the NBA, signing a three-year agreement with Panathinaikos.

The French international’s contract is reportedly worth around €12 million net, equivalent to approximately €4 million per season.

Yabusele previously spent three seasons with Real Madrid, winning the EuroLeague in 2023. His subsequent NBA spell included appearances for the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls.

The 30-year-old combines the strength to compete inside with the shooting range expected of a modern power forward. He can also operate at center in smaller lineups, allowing Panathinaikos to adjust their frontcourt against different opponents.

His previous success at Real Madrid meant the club was paying for a player with an established EuroLeague record rather than relying solely on his NBA experience.

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Sasha Vezenkov returned to Olympiacos from the NBA in 2024, signing a five-year contract worth an estimated €3.7 million net annually.

His performances since returning have provided a strong justification for the investment.

During the 2025/26 regular season, Vezenkov averaged 19.4 points per game and claimed his second EuroLeague MVP award. Olympiacos also captured their first European championship since 2013, defeating Real Madrid 92–85 in the final.

The Bulgarian forward is particularly effective without dominating possession. He finds shooting opportunities around screens, cuts into open spaces and consistently converts chances created by his teammates.

That efficiency allows Olympiacos to build its offense around several contributors while still relying on Vezenkov as a primary scoring option.

Although newer contracts have pushed him down the salary rankings, his combination of individual awards and team success remains difficult to match.

Elijah Bryant turned an outstanding 2025/26 season into one of the EuroLeague’s most lucrative contract extensions.

The American averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists for Hapoel Tel Aviv, earning a place on the All-EuroLeague First Team.

In July 2026, Hapoel extended his agreement through the 2028/29 season.

The financial details remain uncertain, with reported annual earnings ranging from approximately €3 million to €4.3 million.

Bryant offers more than scoring. He can initiate possessions, defend different perimeter positions and contribute on the boards. His versatility gives Hapoel options when its primary playmakers face heavy defensive pressure.

After playing an important role at Anadolu Efes, Bryant took on greater offensive responsibility in Tel Aviv and delivered the strongest EuroLeague campaign of his career.

Sylvain Francisco established himself among the EuroLeague’s leading guards during the 2025/26 season, averaging 16.5 points and 6.5 assists across 42 appearances.

He finished second in regular-season MVP voting behind Sasha Vezenkov and earned All-EuroLeague First Team recognition.

His summer transfer was unusually complicated.

Francisco initially signed with ASVEL, but financial difficulties at the French club contributed to a subsequent agreement with Panathinaikos. The move was officially announced on July 30, 2026, before he had played a competitive game for ASVEL.

His three-year Panathinaikos contract reportedly guarantees more than €3 million per season. Other estimates suggest approximately €3.5 million annually, with performance bonuses potentially increasing his earnings further.

Francisco’s ability to break down defenses, generate assists and score from beyond the arc helped establish him as one of the most sought-after playmakers on the European market.

Mfiondu Kabengele established himself as one of Dubai Basketball’s most reliable players during the club’s debut EuroLeague campaign.

The Canadian center averaged 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds in 2025/26, proving he could perform consistently against established European frontcourts.

Dubai extended his contract in July 2026, keeping him at the club through 2028. His revised annual salary is estimated at approximately €3 million.

Kabengele also helped Dubai win its first ABA League championship, earning Finals MVP honors after averaging 15.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in the four-game series against Partizan.

His physical strength, mobility and rebounding make him a difficult matchup around the basket. He also provides the athleticism needed to defend pick-and-roll situations against quicker opponents.

With his EuroLeague credentials established, Dubai moved to secure a key frontcourt player beyond his original contract.

Edy Tavares signed a five-year contract extension with Real Madrid in 2024, committing his future to the club through 2029.

His annual net salary is estimated at approximately €3 million, although some reports place the amount slightly lower.

The Cape Verdean center is a two-time EuroLeague champion, three-time Best Defender award winner and the 2023 Final Four MVP.

Tavares stands out among the competition’s biggest earners because his greatest influence comes on the defensive end.

His size and rim protection force opponents to reconsider shots near the basket. Real Madrid can build defensive schemes around his presence, knowing that he provides an additional layer of protection behind perimeter defenders.

Finding another center with comparable defensive attributes would be difficult, helping explain the club’s long-term financial commitment.

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Mike James joined Anadolu Efes in the summer of 2026 after five seasons with Monaco, agreeing to a contract structured as one year plus an option for a second.

The EuroLeague’s all-time leading scorer is estimated to earn approximately €2.9 million net annually, although the exact financial terms have not been publicly disclosed.

Anadolu Efes signed the 2024 regular-season MVP to strengthen its offensive creation, but his first campaign in Istanbul was disrupted almost immediately.

James suffered an Achilles tendon injury against Crvena Zvezda on October 1, 2026, and underwent surgery the following day.

The club announced an expected recovery period of seven to nine months, leaving the possibility that he could miss almost the entire season.

His inclusion in this ranking reflects the reported annual value of his contract, not a confirmed amount payable during recovery. The financial impact of his injury depends on individual contractual terms that have not been made public.

Several established EuroLeague players sit close to the estimated €3 million threshold.

Panathinaikos center Mathias Lessort and Olympiacos signing Jean Montero are reportedly earning around €2.8 million net per season.

Evan Fournier of Olympiacos, Džanan Musa of Dubai Basketball and Marko Gudurić of Olimpia Milano are estimated to earn approximately €2.7 million annually.

Other salary assessments place some of these players inside the top ten, while Nikola Milutinov and Thomas Walkup also feature in alternative rankings.

These differences are particularly relevant near the bottom of the list. When annual salaries are separated by relatively small amounts, uncertainty over contract structures and taxation can change several positions.

The EuroLeague’s highest reported salaries have increased significantly.

In 2024/25, the competition’s leading annual salary was estimated at approximately €3.7 million. By 2026/27, that figure had risen to €5.6 million – an increase of more than 50%.

The growth extends beyond the highest-paid player. Two seasons ago, only three EuroLeague players reportedly earned more than €3 million net annually. The latest estimates put that number close to ten.

Several developments help explain the change.

NBA returnees are commanding substantial contracts. Micić, Hayes-Davis and Yabusele arrived with established reputations and the negotiating leverage to secure major European deals.

Newer clubs are competing financially with traditional powers. Hapoel Tel Aviv have two players in the top ten, while Dubai Basketball secured Kabengele on an improved long-term agreement.

Breakout seasons are translating into major pay rises. Francisco and Bryant earned substantial extensions or new contracts after establishing themselves among the competition’s strongest performers.

The figures also underline the difference between individual salaries and overall squad strength. Panathinaikos dominate this particular ranking, but spending heavily on a handful of stars does not automatically create the deepest or most balanced roster.

With 38 regular-season games, domestic commitments and the demands of the postseason, depth and player availability remain essential.

The EuroLeague 2026/27 season overview examines the championship contenders, standings and title race beyond individual player contracts.